"Human Library at the Queens Medical Centre (by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust)"

Representatives from the Rosewood Involvement Centre and Duncan Macmillan Involvement Centre also a Peer support workers from Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust attended a Human Library event at the Queens Medical Centre (QMC).

I felt the philosophy of Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust Involvement of changing lives, changing services and changing culture was apparent at the Human Library event at the QMC.

The first thing I noticed about the students that their were very keen to listen to the Service users, Carers and also Peer support workers. We were split into groups and we were introduced to the young medical students. I also saw a wide range of diverse culture while I was at the QMC which I enjoyed.

Although it was my first time talking to medical students about my mental health illness (schizophrenia). I started talking to the medical students and I realised they were very keen and asked very important and knowledgeable questions to which I was happy to answer, we had 20 minutes sessions with new medial students but we ran over time to time. This was proof to me that my Involvement with the Human Library was worth while because assisting and development of the next wave of the junior doctors will hopefully change services, lives and culture.

I feel the Human Library is a great way to fight stigma and fight issues revolving around mental health difficulties and helps raise awareness in the development of future staff training. For me personally, getting the word out there is important. The Human Library is run by Volunteers and Staff who take on particular roles e. g. book monitor, Liberian and mentors

Very importantly we handed evaluation questionnaires to help the human library develop its strategy in going forward.

I like to see more happening around human library; I want to see more training given to potential books with appropriate support

While I have enjoyed doing Human library at medical centres, colleges and with medical students I personally feel want to help raise awareness and fight stigma we should actively seek out opportunities to deliver the Human Library to the public.

I would like to know how the Trust values the Services user, Carers Involvement in the Human Library. I would ask for your thoughts to be posted on this posting...